The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) gave a total of Php 505,740.00 to two women’s group in Mandaue City to start their own businesses.
The 24-members group from Brgy. Jagobiao chose dressmaking while the other group with 30 members from Brgy. Ibabao-Estancia (30 members) opted for rice retailing business.
“Nalipay gyud ko og dako kay makatabang gyud ni sa among panginabuhi labi na nga ang akong bana tig-ayo ra og radiator sa sakyanan nga dili kada adlaw naay kita kay dili kada adlaw magpa-ayo (I am happy because this would greatly help in our livelihood especially that my husband’s work as a car radiator repairman is not regular. It is not every day that someone would ask for his services),” said teary-eyed Jennifer Quiño.
Jennifer stands as the group leader for the Brgy. Jagobiao group and recounted the challenges they had faced in order to put up their dressmaking business.
“Naglisud gyud mi pangita og lugar nga kabutangan sa mga makina arun kami makapanahi. Pero ang tanan pagsulay lamang sa Ginoo (We had difficulty in looking for a place where we could put the sewing machines where we could also work. Everything is but God’s test for us),” added Jennifer.
With the help of the officials of Barangay Jagobiao, the women were able to set up their newly purchased sewing machines in a space near the barangay hall, which is free. The group will pay only the electric bill.
As part of their social preparation, the two groups underwent several trainings sponsored by the City Government of Mandaue.
The group from Brgy. Jagobiao had an intensive training on dressmaking. The group from Brgy. Ibabao-Estancia had a crash course on financial literacy especially on accounting.
SLP is a community-based capacity building program that increases the economic opportunities of the families through the different modalities that it offers such as skills training, seed capital fund, pre-employment assistance fund, and the cash for building livelihood assets.
It is implemented through the Community-Driven Enterprise Development Approach which equips program participants to actively contribute to production and labor markets by looking at available resources and accessible markets. ###
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